[6.3 Election] Kim San, Prospective Muan County Mayor, Says "Unified Government Office Must Remain in Namak"

Calls on Special Mayoral Candidates to Present Campaign Pledges

Kim San, the Democratic Party’s prospective candidate for the mayor of Muan County, has officially called for the main government office of the unified Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City to remain in Namak.

Kim San, preliminary candidate for the Muangun County Governor running for a third term. Photo by the candidate's campaign team

On April 18, Kim released a statement, saying, “The location of the main government office, which is the key issue for the unified metropolitan city, must be clearly decided as Namak in Muan, where the current Jeonnam Provincial Government is situated.”

He stated, “Among all Muan mayoral candidates, I have been the first to take a proactive stance in supporting the retention of Namak,” and emphasized, “I will mobilize all available resources to safeguard the main government office.”

Kim repeatedly highlighted that, in terms of administrative efficiency and cost, Namak is the most reasonable choice. He explained, “The main government office is a core hub where authority, budget, and future strategy are concentrated,” and added, “The decision on its location is not simply about geography—it is directly linked to balanced regional development.”

He particularly argued, “According to the national philosophy that special sacrifices require special compensation, Muan has accepted national projects such as the relocation of the military airport, and therefore, appropriate guarantees are necessary.”

He further stressed the justification for keeping the office in Namak, saying, “With various infrastructure already concentrated in Gwangju, if administrative functions are also centralized there, the risk of extinction for the southwestern region could accelerate.”

Kim stated, “Safeguarding the main office in Namak is not an act of parochialism, but the minimum measure needed to uphold the spirit of administrative integration,” and called on the initial candidates for the special mayoral post to present responsible pledges on this issue.

He added, “The government and both the ruling and opposition parties must also clarify their positions before the June 3 local elections.”

Kim also pledged, “I will nurture Muan as a central hub for attracting businesses and public institutions by leveraging the functions and geographic advantages of the Jeonnam Provincial Government,” and said, “I will help the southwestern region emerge as an energy and logistics hub.”

Meanwhile, as discussions on the launch of the unified Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City gain momentum, the regional debate over the location of the main government office is expected to intensify further.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.